Direct Cost of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Management

Background: There are few studies on the cost of glaucoma management in developing country, especially in Togo, there are no data on the cost of POAG management. Aims: To determine the annual direct cost of the management of POAG, to evaluate the annual economic weight of the management of POAG and to determine the factors associated with the annual economic weight of the management. Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study over a period of 12 months from January 1 to December 31, 2019 based on the records of patients followed for POAG in AFIA Eye Clinic in Lomé-Togo. The annual direct cost was defined by the sum of the costs of consultations, explorations and treatments. We defined the direct cost per patient and per year and related to the average annual income. It was said to be catastrophic at 20% or more of the estimated annual income. Chi 2 and Fisher tested the comparison of proportions. We conducted univariate and multivariate logistic regression to search correlations. Results: During the study period, 150 patient records were included. The average age was 47.24 ± 17.09 years and the sex ratio was 0.82. The cost of the diagnosis was 112.18 ± 22.26 €. The average cost of consultations was 19.46 ± 11.35 € and that of explorations was 92.71 ± 10.91 €. The annual cost of treatment per patient was 165.52 ± 110.16 €. The annual global direct cost of POAG management per patient was 277.69 ± 132.42 €. Compared to the annual income of 1166.29 €, the economic weight of the glaucoma management was 23.8%. This direct cost was catastrophic for 32.1% of patients in the study (44/150 of people with no care). Compared to the guaranteed inter-professional minimum wage (SMIG) of 640.30 €, the economic direct cost weight was 43.3%. Risk factors significantly associated with the direct cost were age over 40 (OR = 1.05 and p = 0.032), liberal profession (OR = 4.72 and p = 0.04), the absence of health insurance (OR = 6.68 and p = 0.017) and the use carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (OR = 7.4 and p = 0.012) and prostaglandin analogues (OR of 38.2 and p < 0.001). Conclusion: This first study on the direct cost of POAG management in Lomé showed that the economic burden glaucoma represents for the patient, his family and society. The data from this study will allow health decision-makers to adopt strategies to mitigate the effects of glaucoma on the economy.